Bottle carrier



INOV- 1942- J. M. STRONG 3,2

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 24, 1942. J. M. STRONG BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 18, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 24, 1942." D J. M. STRONG BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

g] H I Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE some cannma James M. Strong, Dallas, Tex., assignor to J. W. Wilson, Dallas, Tex.

Application February 18, 1941, Serial No. 379,492

Claims.

This invention relates to a bottle carrier, one of the objects being to provide a-device which is cheap to manufacture, can be carried readily, and serves not only to hold a group of bottles to be carried, but also to fasten the bottles in place so that they cannot become accidentally released while the carrier is being handled.

Another object is to provide a carrier in which the bottles can be placed at the point of shipment and so constructed that they can be stacked readily, it being unnecessary to use the cases commonly provided for bottles being shipped in quantities.

A further object is to hold the bottles firmly in the carrier so that they will not strike againsteach other while being transported by hand or otherwise.

A still further object is to employ a bottle securing means of simple construction which will catch automatically but which can readily be released to free the bottles in the carrier.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims. it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the carriers.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing by broken lines the bottles held thereby.

Figure 3 is a. perspective view of one of the latches.

Figure 4 is a plan view of another form.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 4, a bottle being shown by broken lines and the release position of the top plate being shown also by broken lines.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the top plate and the adjacent part of one of the loops.

, Figure 7 is a plan view of the bottom plate shown in Figure 1.-

Figure 8 is a plan view of another form of carrier.

Figure 9 is a section on line 99, Figure 8, parts being broken away.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference. I designates a bottom plate or tray having a marginal flange 2 extending therearound.

This tray is proportioned to hold any desired number of bottles, preferably six, arranged in two rows and spaced from each other. Angular bosses 3 or other protuberances can be provided on the tray for preventing the supported bottles from sliding against each other at the bottoms thereof. These are shown in Figure 7 and, if desired, metal can be removed from the tray to provide openings 4 under the bottles, thereby to' lighten the structure.

Secured to the tray l near the center of each side, is a plate 5 having a sleeve 6. The ends of each sleeve receive the inturned ends 1 of an elongated loop 8 formed preferably of spring wire and having parallel sides. The upper end of each loop merges into an eye 9 and the eyes of the two loops are loosely engaged by' eyes I!) at the ends of a bail or handle II.

The sides of each loop 8 are offset inwardly along parallel lines as shown at l2 to provide latching portions located at a level in which are positioned the shoulder portions S of bottles B when seated on the tray.

A top plate I3 is provided with 9. depending marginal flange l4 and has slots l5 near its opposed sides into which the upper portions of loops 8 extend. Those portions of flange l4 nearthe slots are formed with oppositely extending angular notches l6 opening downwardly through the lower edge of the flange. The distance between the open ends of the notches ii at each end of the plate is less than the distance between the sides of the adjacent loop 8 and the length of each ofiset I2 is slightly greater than the thickness of flange H.

Openings I! are provided in plate l3 and are so located as to receive the neck portions of the bottles on the tray. Furthermore the diameter of these openings is such that when the walls of the openings are resting. lightly on the shoulders Sv of the respective bottles, the notches ii are located with the ofisets I2 seated in the laterally extended closed end portions of the notches. See Figure 3. Thus bottles which had been placed on the tray, are securely held in place and the bail or handle II can swing out of the way onto the top plate. As the upper ends of loop 8 do not project above the bottle necks, it is obvious that a number of the filled holders can be stacked and the stacks assembled close together on a truck rack or a shelf. Consequently the bottles can be stored and handled without the use of cases and are always divided into predetermined units for sale. Usually each each.

when it is desired to of the loops I are pressed toward each other so as to unseat the offset portions l2 from the ends of notches l6 and allow the top plate to be slid remove a bottle the sides upwardly along loops 8 and the end portions'of handle ll, thereby clearing the bottle necks, and being free to swing from the bottles with the handle.

In loading the carrier the bottles are flrst placed on the tray and thereafter the top plate I! is slid downwardly along the handle H and loops 8 until the flange I4 engages oflsets l2. The loops are then contracted to allow the oflsets to enter the notches and are subsequently released to engage and hold the plate l2.

In the form shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the same kind of tray can be used as shown in Figures l, 2, 3 and 7. This tray, shown at l8, has elongated loops H of spring wire hingedly joined thereto as heretofore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 and as shown at 20. The sides of the loops are parallel for the greater portion of their length but near their upper ends are offset in opposite directions at 2| and merge into upwardly inclined portions 22 leading to an eye 23. Eyes 24 at the ends of a ball or handle 25 engage the eyes 23 and this handle extends over a flanged top plate 26 in which are provided openings 21. The loops I9 extend through these openings and are so proportioned that the offsets 2| normally lap the top plate 26 at opposite sides of the opening, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Thus the top plate is held in position with the walls of its openings 28 bearing on the shoulders of bottles supported on the tray. By contracting the loops the oflsets can be disengaged from the top plate and said plate moved upwardly on the loops and hail or handle, thereby releasing the bottles and allowing the top plate to swing to one side with the ball, as shown by broken lines in Figure 5.

Under some conditions it might be desirable to provide a top plate which can be removed or disconnected from the bottom tray. Such a structure has been shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this modified structure the side loops 29 of spring wire are secured at their lower ends to the front and back portions of the bottom tray 30 instead of at the ends thereof. The upper ends of the loops are bent toward each other to provide U- shaped connections 3| supported in the same plane. A top plate 32 has openings 33 for receiving the necks of bottles on the tray and so proportioned that their walls will rest on the shoulders of the bottles. The U-shaped connections 31 are adapted to embrace the necks of two opposed bottles, as will be apparent by referring to Figure 8 and they serve to hold the sides of the loop normally spread apart in angular notches 34 formed in the flange of the top plate. Thus the top plate is supported at the proper distance from .the bottom tray 30. By contracting the loops, however, they can be unseated from the notches and the top plate lifted bodily from the rest of the device.

For convenience in handling, a bail or handle 35 has its sides slidable in openings in the top plate and the ends are offset as at 36 to form stops.

When the tray is provided with bottles and the top plate is fastened in holding position, the ball or handle can gravitate to position below the tops of the held bottles. By pulling upwardly on the bail, however, the stops it will engage and lift up on the secured top plate so that the carrier thus can be transported readily.

It will be noted that in all forms of the invention the ball or handle, when not in use, is

collapsed on the top plate below the upper ends of the bottles and will not interfere with stacking the carriers, one resting on the bottles in the next thereunder. v

when not in use the top plate of each device can-be placed in the pan thereof and, in the forms shown in Figures 1 to 7, the unused loops can be sprung out of the sleeves 6 and placed out of the way, between the tray and top plate. Thus the unused carriers can be compactly packed for shipment and storage.

The present invention provides a cheap but durable bottle carrier which can be used many times, can be carried readily, will hold the bottles securely, and, if desired, can eliminate the use of the usual cases.

What is claimed is:

l. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a slotted top plate having openings proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to bear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient loops extending from the tray and through the slots, each loop including an offset for detachable engagement with the top plate and each loop being contractible to disengage its offset from the slotted portions of the top plate and release said plate for upward movement relative to the tray.

2. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to bear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient loops extending from the tray, each loop including an offset for detachable engagement with the top plate and each loop being contractible to disengage its,ofiset from the top plate and release said plate for upward movement relative to the tray, and a handle coupled to the top plate, said handle being collapsed normaliy by gravity on the top plate and away from the openings.

3. A bottle carrier including a, bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings Proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to hear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient loops extending from the tray, each loop including an offset for detachable engagement with the top plate and each loop being contractible to disengage its offset from the top plate and release said plate for upward movement relative to the tray, and a handle pivotally connected to and joining the loops, said handle being collapsed normally by gravity on the top plate and away from the openings.

4. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to bear at their' walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated loops connected at their lower ends to opposed portions of the tray, said top plate being mounted to slide upwardly and downwardly on the loops, cooperating means on the loops and top plate for latching the plate against movement away from the tray when lowered to a predetermined position, and a handle connecting the loops and overlying the top plate.

5. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to hear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated loops connected at their lower ends to the tray, a handle pivotally connected to and joining the loops, said top plate being mounted to slide upwardly and downwardly on the loops and handle and'being shiftable with the handle when mounted thereon, and cooperating means on the loops and top plate for latching said plate against movement away from the tray when moved to a predetermined position on the loops.

6. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to bear at their walls ,on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated loops connected at their lower ends to the tray, a handle pivotally connected to and joining the loops, said top plate the handle when mounted thereon, and cooperating means on the loops and top plate for latching said plate against movement away from the tray when moved to a predetermined position on the loops, said means including offsets on the loops, there being openings in the top plate each having opposed walls positioned for engagement by the respective offsets of one of the loops.

tioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the trayand to bear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated loops connected at their lower ends to the tray, a handle pivotally connected to and joining the loops, said top plate being mounted to slide upwardly and downwardly on the loops and handle and being shiftable with the handle when mounted thereon, and cooperating means on the loops and top plate for latching said plate against movement away from the tray whenmoved to a predetermined position on the loops, said means including a flange on the top plate having spaced angular notches opening downwardly at its lower edge, and offsets in the loops positioned for engagement in the notches.

9. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting' tray, a top plate having openings propor-v toned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to hear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated'loops connected at their lower ends to the tray and terminating at their upper ends below the tops of the bottles on the tray, said top plate being mounted to slide top plate for latching said top plate against movement away from the tray when moved to a pre- 7. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings proportioned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and to hear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated loops connected at their lower ends to the tray, a handle pivotally connected to and joining the loops, said to plate beoffsets on eachloop, there being openings into which the loops extend, opposed walls of the openings being positioned for engagement by the oilsets. t

8. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supporting tray, a top plate having openings propordetermined position'on the loops, and a handle connected to and slidable within the top plate.

10. A bottle carrier including a bottle-supportlugtray, a top plate having openings proportoned to receive the necks of the bottles on the tray and 'to bear at their walls on the shoulders of the bottles, resilient elongated loops connected at their lower ends to the tray and terminating at their upper ends below the tops of the bottles on the tray, said-top plate being mounted to slide on the loops, and cooperating means on the loops and top plate for latching said top plate against movement away from the tray whenmoved to a predetermined position on the loops, said cooperating means including a flange on the top plate having pairs of opposed angular notches open at one end and an offset portionon each loop positimed to be detachably seated in the notches of each pair.

' JAMES M. STRONG. 

